Northwest Broadcasting

American television broadcasting company (1995–2019) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Northwest Broadcasting, Inc. was a television broadcasting company based in Okemos, Michigan, United States, a suburb of Lansing. The broadcasting group owned or operated twelve television stations in six markets, through subsidiaries such as Broadcasting Communications, Mountain Communications, Stainless Broadcasting, and Bristlecone Broadcasting.[1]

Company typePrivate
Founded1995; 31 years ago (1995)
DefunctDecember 17, 2019; 6 years ago (2019-12-17)
FateAcquired by Cox Media Group
Quick facts Company type, Founded ...
Northwest Broadcasting, Inc.
Company typePrivate
Founded1995; 31 years ago (1995)
DefunctDecember 17, 2019; 6 years ago (2019-12-17)
FateAcquired by Cox Media Group
SuccessorCox Media Group
Headquarters
Key people
Brian Brady (president & CEO)
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History

Northwest Broadcasting was founded in 1995 by Brian Brady to acquire the television stations of Salmon River Communications, including KAYU-TV in Spokane, Washington, K68EB in Yakima, Washington, KBWU-LP in the Tri-Cities (Richland-Kennewick-Pasco, Washington), and KMVU in Medford, Oregon.[2] In 1997, Northwest purchased Stainless, Inc. for $17 million; while Stainless was primarily a manufacturer of broadcasting towers, the purchase also added WICZ-TV in Binghamton, New York and KTVZ in Bend, Oregon to Northwest's station group.[3][4] Stainless had owned broadcast stations since purchasing WICZ (then known as WINR-TV) in 1971.[5] Though Northwest would sell the Stainless tower company to SpectraSite Holdings in 1999[6] and KTVZ to News-Press & Gazette Company in 2002,[7] it still owns WICZ-TV under the Stainless Broadcasting Company name.

Brian Brady expanded his broadcast holdings in 2002, when he teamed up with Alta Communications to acquire the K-Six Television stations under the name Eagle Creek Broadcasting;[8] Alta had also invested in Northwest Broadcasting in 1996.[9] Alta divested its interest in Northwest Broadcasting in 2007[10] and in Eagle Creek Broadcasting in 2013.[11] During the 2010s, Brady acquired additional stations through companies such as Blackhawk Broadcasting,[12] Bristlecone Broadcasting,[13] and Cedar Creek Broadcasting.[14] These companies have occasionally made joint filings with Northwest Broadcasting in Federal Communications Commission proceedings under the name "The TV Station Group."[15]

In February 2019, Reuters reported that Apollo Global Management had agreed to acquire the entirety of Brian Brady's television portfolio, which it intends to merge with Cox Media Group (which Apollo is acquiring at the same time) and stations spun off from Nexstar Media Group's purchase of Tribune Broadcasting, once the purchases are approved by the FCC.[16] In March 2019 filings with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Apollo confirmed that its newly-formed broadcasting group, Terrier Media, would acquire Northwest Broadcasting, with Brian Brady holding an unspecified minority interest in Terrier.[17] In June 2019, it was announced that Terrier Media would instead operate as Cox Media Group, as Apollo had reached a deal to also acquire Cox's radio and advertising businesses.[18] The transaction was completed on December 17.[19]

Former stations

More information Media market, State ...
Stations owned by Northwest Broadcasting
Media market State Station Purchased Sold Notes
YumaArizona KSWT 20142019[a]
KYMA-DT 20142019[a]
EurekaCalifornia KIEM-TV 20172019
KVIQ 20162017
KVIQ-LD 20162019
PocatelloIdaho FallsIdaho KPVI-DT 20162019
Twin Falls KXTF 20162017
Bowling GreenKentucky WNKY 19972003[b]
AlexandriaLouisiana KLAX-TV 20182019
KWCE-LP 20182019
GreenvilleGreenwoodMississippi WABG-TV 20162019
WFXW 20162019[c]
WNBD-LD 20162019
WXVT-LD 20172019
BinghamtonNew York WBPN-LP 20002019
WICZ-TV 19972019
Syracuse WNYS-TV 20132019[d]
WSYT 20132019
BendOregon KTVZ 19972002
Medford KFBI-LD 20132019
KMCW-LP 20132016
KMVU-DT 19952019
Corpus ChristiTexas KZTV 20022010
Laredo KNEX-LP 20122015
KVTV 20022015
SpokaneWashington KAYU-TV 19962019
Tri-CitiesYakima KCYU-LD 19962019[A]
KFFX-TV 19992019[e]
Walla Walla KBKI 20012002
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Notes

  1. Semi-satellite of KFFX-TV.
  1. Known as WKNT prior to 2001.
  2. Owned by a third party and operated by Northwest Broadcasting.
  3. Solely operated by Northwest Broadcasting from 2013 until 2018.
  4. Solely operated by Northwest Broadcasting from 1999 until 2003.

References

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